Events
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Perhaps it’s just me, but I feel like Nirav and I have been giving the impression that good new rock music falls into some sort of new obscure sub-genre. That might be true for the most part, but there really are some bands that we love that can only be classified as rock. Ra definitely falls into that category. I actually heard them playing in a bar recently, so I know they’ve had some exposure via the radio. Unfortunately, I personally think it was the wrong kind. It wasn’t even their own song. It was a cover of Every Little Thing She Does is Magic by The Police. The cover was actually very well done, they put their own twist to it, and it was even a little catchy… I hated it. If that it is the only thing you’ve heard by Ra, please continue reading.
I know I said Ra is a straight-up rock band, but they do have an occasional Egyptian twist, as their name might implicate. I happen to really like it, but it’s also just subtle and sparse enough that it shouldn’t turn away listeners not yet open to foreign sounds. I’ve been listening to these guys since high school, and Nirav will correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure it was Nirav who told me to go by their first EP, One (2000), which was later re-released as the full album From One (2002). Unfortunately, they haven’t kept terribly busy. They’ve since only released one additional studio album and one live album, Duality (2005) and Raw (2006) respectively. But I still love flooding out any chance of ambient noise to my ears with these guys.
Ra has a unique sound without compromising the vague boundaries of rock. Which is why I can’t really figure out why they never took off. To me, that seems like an ideal formula for radio friendly rock. But inevitably, Nirav and I liked them and so they were doomed to be only loved by obnoxious listeners such as ourselves. The two features about Ra that really jumped out at me were the vocals and raw sound of the guitar (no pun intended). I like that the singer shies away from any sort of screaming, and as well he should. He’s got a great voice and shouldn’t ruin it. He has a a very confident voice with a relatively wide vocal range for the band’s style. In hopes of recruiting more fans for Ra, I’ve selected a clip from my favorite track, Sky from both One and From One.
Add New Comment
Viewing 4 Comments
Thanks. Your comment is awaiting approval by a moderator.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Add New Comment